Day 14

We all woke early, feeling broken and very unrefreshed. Slowly and begrudgingly we crawl under the mosquito nets, heading outside for some sunlight to warm us....

The village has a very slow peace of life which is nice... With a cup of Thai tea I claim a ripped hammock as my own and climb in... This is far more comfy than the bed... If it had a mosquito net I'd of rather slept here than where I did.

Breakfast was served... Hard boiled egg with toast and a very sweet jam, with water million and pineapple. It's not long before we are all walking again... Leaving the village in a new direction, as we leave I spot a spider sitting on its web... Maybe six or seven inches across... One of the village dogs walks with us... For what feels like mile after mile we walk, dog in tow through twisting undulating paths, across rice fields one minute and through dense jungle next to sheers drops down to the river the next.. All the time the dogs there... It's not till we come to a river crossing made if bamboo that I think we may have to wave goodbye to our intrepid four legged traveller, but after a few failed attempts the dogs committed... The water rushes noisily passed under the loosely tied bendy bridge but the dog won't quit... Can't quit now, there's a few close calls were the rear paws slip on the smooth bamboo but in the end with one big jump the dogs over... And I'm clad... He could of done with the wash, but I'm not sure he'd of come out the other side alive if he went in... We walk on and are soon presented with a place to swim... Our own tiny beach completely surrounded by jungle... All you can see is sand, rock, water and trees... With massive lengths of climbing foliage hanging from the tree canopy down to the waters edge... Bamboo trees everywhere...

We get in the water and jump from the high rocked sides for half an hour whilst our guild Chi pulls out a huge knife and sets about making cups out of bamboo for us...

After a quick dry off and a short walk we are sat having pad Thai in a cafe that is situated high above the river... Its a nice view and the foods great... We are told to change again into swimming gear where we are... Are the truck leaves from here... With no changing rooms this is a nice little treat for all the boys as the girls struggle to keep everything covered... They think its a scam but I'm happy to along with it...

The rafting is done all on bamboo... Maybe seven lengths on total, around 30t long and held together utilising a traditional Thai attachment method.... Old push bike tyres and inner tubes.... There used for all manner of different things here... But mainly as a rope substitute. We are placed on a raft with the two French girls and a Thai guy who uses a thinner piece of bamboo to steer us down the river.. Using it to brace our impact on the large rocks that line the river side, or by digging it into the river bed.. The river is shallow and slow moving so its a nice gentle amble down the river. We pass a snake swimming up stream by the bank, only its head visible.... From this moment on Shiree didn't want to go in the water....

Its a nice relaxing way to end the two day tour...

Once bank in Chaing Mai to our original hotel we walk into town for Pad Thai before going to a well earned bed.